New Padres pitcher Andrew Werner throws in the first inning of his major league debut. Earnie
Grafton • U-T

Like almost everybody else, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew virtually nothing about Andrew Werner.

Then again, maybe they knew all they needed to know. That being, Werner was pitching for the Padres.

Not that what Werner did Wednesday wasn’t impressive — and it was, a major league debut in which the left-hander pitched the Padres to a 4-2 triumph — but the Pirates have to be convinced by now that they can’t beat anybody in a San Diego uniform. Home or road.

Not only did the southpaw call-up from Tucson keep the Padres ahead for another sweep of Pittsburgh, but the bullpen secured San Diego’s 17th win in its last 20 games against the Pirates, who lost 11 home starts to the Padres before pulling one out a couple of weeks back.

Preposterous. About as preposterous as an undrafted free agent, a 25-year-old with a 5-10 record between Double-A and Triple-A this season, holding a playoff-contending lineup to two runs over six-plus innings in his first big league appearance.

The 14th different starting pitcher used this season by the Padres, Werner was given the full benefit of some major league defense by the Padres, but also allowed just four hits to a Pirates offense that simply doesn’t get San Diego pitching.

“I liked it,” said manager Bud Black, who’d never seen Werner throw before he arrived Tuesday at Petco Park. “He made a very favorable first impression ... He did what he does best, produce grounders. He kept (shortstop Everth Cabrera) busy and kept (third baseman Chase Headley) busy, and when it was a left-hander up there, he kept the right side busy.”

Clearly surprised to be getting the call to San Diego — and visibly nervous about the occasion at hand when first appearing in the dugout on Tuesday — Werner actually looked quite comfortable as he took the mound Wednesday. Never mind all the family and friends watching the game on televisions back in Indianapolis and Peoria, Ill.

Nine pitches into his debut, he was back in the dugout, having induced two groundouts to third and striking out Most Valuable Player candidate Andrew McCutchen.

“You just don’t want to get boat-raced (routed) in the first inning,” said Werner. “But if you’d told me two years ago that I’d be in a major league game, I’d have told you you’re crazy.”

Crazier yet, by the time he returned to the hill, Werner held a 3-0 lead.

Pirates right-hander James McDonald issued walks to each of the Padres first three batters — Cabrera, Will Venable and Headley — before Carlos Quentin launched a skyball that had “grand slam” written all over it. Petco Park erased it, though, and Quentin’s hit bounced high off the wall in faraway center for a two-run double. Starting at first base, Mark Kotsay promptly brought home another run with his sacrifice fly to center.